An intelligence driven operation that began earlier this year recently resulted in the arrest of seven people and the recovery of two pistols.
The operation was aimed at stopping business robberies and murders in the Emmaus area of Bergville.
Mainly foreign nationals were being targeted in these crimes. Ladysmith Crime Intelligence agents – together with Bergville police officers, the Upper Tugela Borderline Control Unit and the Ladysmith Cluster Trio Task Team – travelled to Gauteng in pursuit of the suspects.
Five people were arrested in a raid that was conducted in the Gauteng area on Wednesday, September 17. Information then led the team back to the Emmaus area, where another two men were arrested on September 19.
They were found in possession of two unlicensed pistols and ammunition. The suspects, who are aged between 26 and 60, all appeared in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 22.
Five face charges relating to murder and business robberies, and two face charges of being in possession of unlicensed firearms.
The operation will continue until all the outstanding suspects have been brought to book.
